Hello! Both of my parents attended a local community college but neither of them ever graduated and got their degrees. So, am I technically first generation?
I think yes for some schools, there is a question on the common app where you list your parents education and degree. If you can’t put a degree then you are first generation.
You answer the questions on the application about your parents’ education level. It is up to the school to determine whether you are first generation college student of not. One thing is sure that if neither parent has gone to any college (or any post-secondary education), you are definitely a first generation college student.
To build upon what @billcsho said: there is no first-generation check box, at least not on the Common App. You list your parents’ educational background, which in this case would be “some college/university.” What each college does with that information is up to them; some will consider you first generation and others will not.
There’s no harm in asking the colleges you are applying to what they consider to be first generation.
On the commonapp, as indicated above, you only indicate your parents’ highest level, so, here “some college/university”.
In most cases, universities that take it into account consider that you’re first gen if neither parent graduated from a 4 -year college.
Look at the “I’mFirst!” website for more information.